We’re launching a new series of posts titled “What God Meant,” in which we will invite expert guest writers to explain some of the most commonly misunderstood scriptural passages. I invited Jesse Wisnewski, content strategist at TheResurgence.com, to kick things off with a look at Romans 13:1.

Which one word that best describes the relationship between Christianity and the state?

Is it “influence”?

What about “redeem”?

Or how about “ignore”?

All of these are excellent suggestions and carried out by various Christians around the world, but there is one word that best answers this question: “submit”.